Women’s State of Origin: NRL blasts trolls over kissing photo

Blues on high alert after Kalyn Ponga Maroons selection

VideoPonga will make his State of Origin debut on Sunday after just 24 NRL matches.

It was the inaugural Women’s State of Origin photograph hailed as fitting of the brand and the first step towards parity with the men’s game.

But it seems some fans haven’t caught up and the NRL isn’t tiptoeing around their feelings.

Thousands of comments flooded the NRL’s Facebook page overnight after it posted this photo of opposing Origin team mates and partners Karina Brown and Vanessa Foliaki kissing after the historic game. Brown is the captain of the Queensland side and Foliaki is the NSW lock. They’ve been together since 2014.

While most comments were overwhelmingly in support of a great photo after a great game, the image attracted some trolling and criticism, including that the photo was “sexualising the game”.

The NRL quickly stepped in: “If we can post a photo of Cooper Cronk and his wife Tara kissing, then we can share a photo of Karina Brown and Ness Foliaki sharing a moment too.”